Midnight Sun (Twilight #1.5)(85)

"Obviously she would have to have bad luck if her guardian angel was as reckless as all that," Jacob said.

"I don't think it sounds all that bad," Bella said. "Besides, he was talking about his angel."

"If the angel created you... it would be yours, too," Jacob shrugged.

With a careless laugh, the irresponsible angel propelled her fragile creation directly into my path, trusting blithely in my flawed morality to keep Bella alive.

In this vision, I was not Bella's sentence; she was my reward.

Bella nodded her head... that was a much better thought.

I shook my head at the fantasy of the unthinking angel. She was not much better than the harpy. I could not think well of a higher power that would behave in such a dangerous and stupid manner. At least the ugly fate I could fight against.

And I had no angel. They were reserved for the good - for people like Bella. So where was her angel through all this? Who was watching over her?

"It looks like they've given you that job, so keep up the good work," Bella said.

I laughed silently, startled, as I realized that, just now, I was filling that role.

A vampire angel - there was a stretch.

"No, it's not... he has his own TV show," Jacob laughed and Bella rolled her eyes.

"I don't think he was talking about a vampire named Angel," Bella said.

After about a half hour, Bella relaxed out of the tight ball. Her breathing got deeper and she started to murmur. I smiled, satisfied. It was a small thing, but at least she was sleeping more comfortably tonight because I was here.

"Edward," she sighed, and she smiled, too.

I shoved tragedy aside for the moment, and let myself be happy again.

"Good," Bella smiled.

"That's the end of the chapter," Jacob said, "let's get something to eat."

11. Interrogations

As soon as Jacob and Bella got to Jacob's house, Bella called Charlie. She tried their home first, but he wasn't there, so she called the office. It was almost seven o'clock, but it seemed that Charlie was still there. He seemed a little flustered when she called, he definitely wasn't used to having someone waiting for him... though in this case that was true, she wondered if he was always going to stay at the office late. He said that he was just going to eat at the office and asked that she was home before ten.

"So what's up?" Jacob asked, finishing making enough spaghetti for three people; Billy was sitting in his chair watching TV.

"I don't have to be home until ten," Bella shrugged, and then whispered so only he could hear, "that should be enough time to finish the manuscript."

"Yeah, it should be," Jacob said looking at his dad warily. "Do you think I should tell my dad about this...?"

"I don't know, Jake," Bella frowned, that was a good question. "What do you think will happen if you do?"

"I'm not sure," Jacob frowned, too. "But I'm going to have to tell him something... at some point."

"Well, let's finish the book first, and then you could tell him whatever you think you should," Bella said.

"Sounds good to me," Jacob said, wanting to put off the lengthy conversation he knew he was going to have to have with his father for as long as possible. Dinner was a pleasant enough event. Billy seemed pleased that the two kids appeared to have become friends so quickly and it was clear that Bella was a lot more comfortable today than she had been yesterday. She didn't look quite as gloomy as she did when he had first seen her at least.

After the meal was done, the two teens went back to Jacob's garage (Billy wondered what on Earth they were doing in there that was so interesting, but didn't ask out loud).

"I guess I'll read now," Bella said picking up the book and read, "Interrogations."

CNN broke the story first.

"What story?" Jacob asked.

Bella rolled her eyes. "About the guy that..."

"Oh," Jacob said and then glared at the book.

I was glad it hit the news before I had to leave for school, anxious to hear how the humans would phrase the account, and what amount of attention it would garner.

Luckily, it was a heavy news day. There was an earthquake in South America and a political kidnapping in the Middle East. So it ended up only earning a few seconds, a few sentences, and one grainy picture.

"It's a good thing that those terrible things happened," Jacob muttered darkly.

"I guess he just didn't want anyone in this town to notice that..." Bella said.

"I guess he didn't want you to notice that," Jacob corrected and Bella had to admit he was right.

"Alonzo Calderas Wallace, suspected serial ra**st and murderer wanted in the states of Texas and Oklahoma, was apprehended last night in Portland, Oregon thanks to an anonymous tip. Wallace was found unconscious in an alley early this morning, just a few yards from a police station. Officials are unable to tell us at this time whether he will be extradited to Houston or Oklahoma City to stand trial."

The picture was unclear, a mug shot, and he'd had a thick beard at the time of the photograph. Even if Bella saw it, she would probably not recognize him. I hoped she wouldn't; it would make her afraid needlessly.

"See," Jacob said triumphantly.