chapter 19 bait

Even when her life was threatened on multiple occasions, even when she dove into ice cold water, and even after she realized that her biology partner was inhuman, Bella had never been as fearful for her life as she was when Edythe Cullen got behind the wheel of her beloved, old truck. She had no idea how the teachers to student drivers got the courage to sit beside their students, who were practically driving them to their deaths in giant, metal death traps. As promised, Bella started to teach Edythe how to drive. It was a week after the saw mill incident, and Edythe had grown closer to Bella through the course of that week. She walked her to her classes as she did before, but this time she didn't seem as though she was forced into it. In fact, she appeared to enjoy it. She made small talk, and smiled more often. It gave Bella such a nice feeling to know that she was happy. Even if she was faking it for her sake, she was appreciative. She wanted to try and integrate Edythe in with the rest of the group, but both parties were still wary of one another. While Edythe kept up her guard around anyone who wasn't Bella, the rest relied on their primal instincts of knowing when a predator was close by. Thus, she switched from table to table every other day. But this wouldn't go unnoticed by Jessica, who was still a bit resentful for their fight, despite the phone call. She questioned Bella every chance she got about the girl. Thankfully, she didn't say more then two words whenever Edythe was present, so nearing the end of the week, Bella spent most of her time with the vampire to avoid questions. Soon, she hoped, Jessica would exhaust herself. In any case, Edythe asked that Friday if she could practice driving. Bella agreed, and that Saturday, they took her truck to the empty lot at the school, Bella saying how happy she was that Edythe jumped at the chance to drive. It wasn't long before she regretted those words.

To say Edythe was a poor driver would be like saying that Niagara Falls is a leak. She couldn't quite understand the concept of keeping her foot on the gas petal, rather then pressing it, pulling her foot away, pressing it again, and so on and so forth. She also turned quite sharply, causing Bella to grab onto anything and everything insight, including her seatbelt, the dash board, the handle above her door, the seat, and her own arms. She was just waiting for them to topple over and sit on the roof of the cab, or something along those lines. She had no doubt that by the time Edythe finally was able to park, her face had lost any and all color. She turned her head to her, her bones stiff from being so tense.

"You've never driven a car before... ever?" she squeaked. Edythe rubbed her temple, shaking her head.

"When I was your age, they were new and for the rich." She looked over to her, biting a part of her lip with her fang. "Sorry..."

Bella shut her eyes and put a hand on her sputtering heart, calming herself. "No... it's fine. It's your first time. But please try to keep your foot on the petal, ok?" She let her body relax against the seat, her breaths slow. She had almost forgot to take some during the terrifying experience.

"Thanks..."

Bella blinked her eyes open and looked over to her, surprised. "Um... It's no problem. I mean, I did say I would..."

Edythes eyes had trailed to the steering wheel. She had eaten the night before, so they were once more their alluring, golden color. A little smile came to her lips and she shook her head. "Not that..."

Bella stared at her, curious as to what she would mean. What else could she thank her for? She hadn't done anything else worthy of gratitude, she didn't think. "Well... for what then?"

Edythe fiddled with the steering wheel. She picked a little at the pealing rubber of the old thing and shrugged. "Just... being there I guess." She glanced at her and shook her head. "Ah, forget it."

A warm smile came to Bella's face. She reached over and put a hand over hers. She looked at her, though she did not move her head. "Don't worry about it," she said gently. "Besides, you where there for my meltdown, right? It's only fair that I do the same."

Edythe kept her smile. "Right..." She paused then, her smile falling. She turned her sharp eyes out the front windshield and narrowed them. "What's she doing here...?"

Bella looked out as well, noticing Julie Black heading towards them. Bella smiled and got out of the car, relieved to feel firm ground beneath her once more. She hurried to her friend and gave her a hug, glad to see her again. She hugged her back, though with not the force that she was used to giving. Edythe slunk up behind her, and even when Bella wasn't looking, she could tell that Edythe was glaring at the young shifter. "What brings you over here?" Bella asked, eager to keep the mood enjoyable.

Julie scratched the back of her head, finding it hard to smile. Strange, as it usually came so easy to her. Bella suddenly felt as though something was wrong and asked if she was all right. She said she was fine, but sure didn't look it. She finally huffed and spoke her mind. "Dad wants to set a trap for the nomads," she said.

"Oh? Well that's good, isn't it?" She turned to Edythe and put a hand on her arm, trying to ease her. "That's a good thing, right?"

Edythe's glower refused to stray. "There's a catch," she grunted. Bella didn't know if she was talking to her or Julie. The native frowned at her and stuffed her mitts into the pockets of her brown jacket.

"Yeah..." Sje let out a long sigh, breath trailing from her lips to the air in a long stem of fog. "He wants Bella to be the bait..."

Bella felt her heart fall from her chest. Bait? Purposefully putting her life in danger to try and trap the nomads? She suddenly got a vision of herself sitting beneath a box propped up by a stick with a string. She might as well have on a sign that said "Fresh Meat" around her neck. She opened her mouth to respond, when she felt two iron like arms clamp around her torso from behind. Edythe pulled her into her chest and growled at her.

"Absolutely not," she said immediately. "She's not sticking her neck out like that." Bella was sure she didn't mean the obvious pun. "No way. Never."

"You think I like the idea any better?" Julie snapped, shooting daggers at the vampire. "Besides, it's not like it was Dad's idea alone. Your lovely father agreed on it."

Edythe's eyes became dangerous slits. "Liar," she hissed. "Carlisle wouldn't put her in danger like that. He's supposed to be protecting you and the humans, not using them like toys."

"Edythe," said a familiar, female voice. The three of them turned to see Rosalie and Emmet appear as if from nowhere. Rosalie now wore a fluffy, marshmallow type jacket that was a bright, pale pink. Emmet wore his usual gray sweatshirt. They made their way over to their sister, who was giving them a look of pure disbelief. "Carlisle and Mr. Black had an agreement last night. They decided that since they value Miss Swan as some kind of toy, she would be perfect in bringing them out of hiding."

Edythe's grip on her only became tighter. Bella felt the circulation to her arms cut off, but didn't say anything. She was too afraid to tell her to let go. "Edie..." said Emmet calmly. "It's not like she's going to be there all on her own. You, me, Alice and Dad'll be there to catch them. That's why it's called a 'trap', you know."

Edythe looked at him helplessly, opening and closing her mouth as if to say something. She shook her head and pushed her eyes to Bella's neck. She was acting like some child who didn't want to let go of her favorite play thing. Bella remembered her talking about still having a teenaged mentality. Maybe because she had lived so long, it moved between a mature state of mind to a childish one. She could very well be unstable because of it. Then again, Bella wouldn't know. She'd never lived to see a century. Not yet anyway. Then again... maybe mentality had nothing to do with it. She had told her about her first love, as did she. It wasn't like before, where they had no real connection between the two of them. Where they didn't talk to one another because they were both two stubborn to do so. They were both there when the other had their moment of weakness. Bella had seen her cry. Edythe had seen her do the same. They had held one another through heartbreak and loneliness. To say that they continued to have no connection was simply idiotic. Bella reached up over her grasp and gently touched her fingers to her hair. She lifted her eyes so that only she could see them. She began to think.

If the nomads had done any good, it was giving her a friend in Edythe Cullen. Through her gaze, she could tell that she cared – truly cared for her now. After witnessing her first love kill herself... She could imagine how uneasy she would be letting someone she had just gotten close to willingly be put in danger. Still... Bella had to consider herself in this. It was true that she feared the nomads more then anything else in her life. But it was like she said before to Julie. She was tired of feeling like the damsel in distress all the time. All she could really do was cling to that crucifix and cross her fingers. What if she was found without it again? She was with Edythe the last time, but she couldn't be with her forever. Perhaps... this was something she could do to make herself feel less helpless. She slowly took herself away from Edythes grip, silently telling her to let her go. She did, though against her will. After looking at one another for a moment, Bella turned to the other three. "One condition. Rosalie." She looked to the blond, who stared right back. "Can you make sure that my dad is safe? I know vampires can't come into a house without being invited, but I don't want Victoria or Laurent tricking him into coming in..." James didn't seem the type to be sly like that. She hoped, anyway.

Rosalie glanced at Emmet before agreeing. "Sure. I'll keep a watch on your house from a tree or something. I won't intervene unless I have to."

"And I'll be there too," Julie added. She sulked and looked away. "I can't help with the trap because my scent is too strong. They'd be able to smell me if I was hiding. Anyway, I'll keep him company on the inside."

Bella nodded. "Then I'll do it."

"Wait a minute, Bella." Edythe took her shoulders and turned her. "Please... You don't have to do this. It's your choice. No one is forcing you. Please don't put yourself in this kind of danger...!"

Bella looked at her a bit more and then smiled gently. She took her cold cheeks into her hands and leaned forward, kissing her forehead. Something she had to boost herself on tiptoes to do. When she got back down to her heals, she kept her smile. "I'll be fine. You won't let anything happen to me, right?" Edythe stared at her, shoulders slumping. She then turned her eyes down and shook her head. "Then I'm safe. I know you won't let anything hurt me."

Rosalie put a hand on her shoulder and she looked to her. With a nod, the two vampires turned and walked off, easily making their way to the forest. Bella turned to Julie, who was glaring off to the side. Bella was sure she was angry that she couldn't be there. She tore from Edythe and patted her arm, giving her a friendly smile. "Don't make your dad worry. Go on." Julie looked at her for a moment before glowering at Edythe. In a sudden movement, she lurched forward and gave Bella a swift kiss to her lips. She then turned on her heal and moved to her truck, slipping into the driver's seat and driving off. Bella was left in a slight state of shock. She turned her eyes to Edythe, who was staring at the black truck, mouth agape. They made eye contact and Bella touched her lips. There was a silence between the two of them. Finally, Bella began to laugh a bit. She felt as though things were suddenly less tense, some how. She moved over to the truck and got back in her seat.

"Come on, Edythe," she called. "You still have a long way to go!"