a/n: hello again! just so you know, the characters in my story may end up being slightly out of character bc they are going to have some characteristics that they don't have in the books. you'll see what i mean in later chapters. don't hate me too much! i'll also try to make my chapters longer, but i'm not promising anything. oh and in contradiction to my last author's note, the thing with James never happened in my story. i really hope i'm not confusing anyone...sorry! enjoy!

Gym was exactly that. Hell. Bella did accomplish, however, not to injure anyone but herself...if you could call that an accomplishment. And in Bella's case, it definitely was.

Edward was waiting for her as usual when she exited the locker room at the end of the day. He had already learned not to ask her how gym went, and for that Bella was thankful. he walked her to her truck as his "adopted siblings" waited for him at his silver Volvo.

"What time should we be expecting you tonight?" he asked, prolonging their goodbye.

"Well, it depends on whether or not I actually do some homework tonight or leave it for later this weekend, and then there is Charlie..." she trailed off for a moment, "...and what he wants to eat, I mean. I'd say around 7:30 or 8 o' clock. Ask Alice. I'm sure she knows better than I do."

As if on cue, they heard Alice's musical voice say, "7:30, and your dad will want spaghetti," as she was suddenly beside them. "Come on, Edward. Jasper isn't...feeling well, for lack of a better term." They turned and saw Jasper shooting daggers at Alice with his eyes. "Well, it's true," she said softly, knowing he could hear her.

Emmett, however, looked unaffected as he waved his arm over his head and yelled, "Hey, Bella!"

Bella smiled and waved back. Jasper waved half-heartedly, and Rosalie just stared pointedly away and climbed into the car.

"I'll see you at 7:30 then," Bella said, turning back to Edward and pecking him on the cheek.

"7:30," he said in a way of goodbye and began walking away with Alice.

Charlie was already home when Bella got there. Uh-oh. That's not a good sign. Bella thought as she walked to the front door. Please let it have been a good day. Please. She walked into the living room and saw Charlie watching television.

"Hey, Dad," she said cautiously. "You're home early." Please.

"Yeah, it was slow down at the station, so I came on home," he replied with a smile. Whew .

"Well, Edward invited me over tonight, so after dinner and I do some homework I'm going to go over to the Cullens'."

Charlie had only been around Edward once or twice (the way she hoped it would stay), and Bella was still wary about how Charlie would feel about her spending time with him.

"Ok, that's fine," he replied. "What's for dinner?"

"I was thinking spaghetti," Bella smiled to herself.

"You read my mind."

"Great. It will be ready after while."

"Ok, Bells."

Bella retreated up the stairs to her bedroom, and piled her book bag on the floor. She threw herself onto her bed and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She lay like that for a while just clearing her mind of all the days events. She felt tired and more worn out than she really should have. She was too stressed out for a normal seventeen year old. She took another deep breath then trekked back down stairs to start dinner.

The few hours after dinner passed as uneventfully as the nearly silent dinner itself had...until Bella was about to leave.

"I'm going to Edward's, Dad," she said on her way to the door.

"Oh, ok," Charlie replied glumly, almost dejectedly.

Uh-oh. Mood swing.

"Dad?" she ventured, walking to the chair where he was sitting. "Are you ok?" Bella felt awkward asking this. She hated sharing her feelings.

"I guess so," Charlie sighed. "It's just that you are always leaving and never spending time with me."

Guilt began to choke her, and Bella struggled to swallow it. "Well, if you want, I could call Edward and tell him I can't come," she suggested uncertainly. As much as she wanted to see Edward again and the rest of the Cullens, she hated seeing her father like this. But then, as if someone had flipped a switch, Charlie was suddenly smiling.

"Aw, don't do that, Bells. We'll hang out some other time."

"Are you sure?" Bella asked, slightly taken aback.

"Sure, sure. Go have fun, and tell Dr. Cullen 'hello' for me."

"Um, well, ok, I guess. I won't be out too late." She eyed Charlie cautiously.

"Ok," he replied, turning back to the television.

"Bye, Dad."

"Bye, Bella."

Bella glanced at the clock on her way out the door. 8:15.

Well, Alice got this vision wrong.

a/n: as always, reviews are appreciated!!!!! btw, things that Bella thinks are supposed to be italicized but i don't think it's working...i also hope that doesn't confuse anyone. does anyone know how to make them italicized?