Parallax

Chapter 9

Bella finally stood up from her bed and went about her morning routine, freshening up and getting ready for the day and as she started down the stairs, she was greeted with such a mundane sight.

Eleazar and Carlisle were in one corner playing Chess with the Denali sisters observing them, Emmett was flipping the channels in the large television while Rosalie snuggled beside him, reading the latest subscription of a car magazine, Jasper and Alice were nowhere to be found while she could hear Esme and Carmen milling about in the kitchen preparing food that she knew was for her.

It was just like any other ordinary human day if it weren't for the fact that the inhabitants of the house, except for Bella, weren't human at all.

"Good morning" She went straight to the kitchen where Esme was just setting a plate of bacon and eggs.

"Good morning, dear... would you like some milk, juice or coffee?" Esme asked while Bella sat down in the kitchen stool.

"Coffee would be fine. Thank you" there was a hint of surprise in Esme's eyes but she merely nodded and started to make one for her. Bella forgot that she was just a teenager and not yet a college student who prefers caffeine in the morning.

Bella was already done with her food and was just finishing her cup of coffee when Alice came inside the kitchen and leaned in the table across from Bella.

"Hey Alice, what's up?"

"I have news... Jasper and I went to get a hold of his contact and we should be able to get some information for you by.... early tomorrow morning" the vampire beamed, clearly pleased with their accomplishment.

"Wow... that was fast" Bella was impressed. She was only hoping that at least by the time the week ended, she could find Caleb but she wasn't expecting them to be able to get answers for her right away.

"You said that you needed to find this woman right away and oh... you don't mind me helping Jasper, right?" Alice added.

"Of course not. I'm glad that you're there. Thank you, Alice." Bella understood why Alice was helping Jasper out even if he was the one that she had approached to ask for assistance. Alice was his mate and they were a package deal just as Bella was with her own mate.

"Where is Jasper, by the way?" Bella looked around, trying to at least get a glimpse of him or talk to him.

She was already starting to get used to the fact that this Jasper was off limits even if her heart still says otherwise. It didn't stop her however, from at least wanting to see him, knowing that it can at least take away some of the longing that she has while trying to find a way to get back to her own mate.

"Oh, he's in the living room with the rest of the boys. I just had to check on you to make sure you're okay"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Bella suddenly wondered, looking at Alice in confusion.

"Edward will be here in two hours" She replied as if it should be obvious enough.

"No... yeah... I'll be all right. I'm more worried about not having the opportunity to talk to you before Edward arrives". She replied instead, trying to dismiss the fact that she doesn't seem to be reacting the way she should be for a "woman who was about to see the man who had left and hurt her".

"I'm sure whatever you're supposed to say to me is not going to be that bad that it can't wait until he arrives." Bella thought that Alice couldn't be more wrong.

"Why don't I just think really hard about deciding to tell you what I wanted to say? In that way, you'll see a vision of our conversation." she suggested but Alice only shook her head.