A/N: Thank you very much to those who gave kind reviews to my first chapter. I've done some quick last minute adjustments to this one, so any funny grammar is my fault alone. :)
As per the usual script... I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 2
Dinner was a quiet affair like any other night, and Charlie didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. After I cleaned up and Charlie was comfortably settled in front of the television, I made my way up the stairs to my refuge to shut myself away for a while.
I reflected on what transpired between me and Edward today. I knew that things wouldn't be normal after what happened last night, but I didn't expect his odd behavior at school and the resulting drama in the kitchen. At first, it didn't surprise me that he was more guarded and distant. After all, one of his nightmares almost came true when Jasper lunged for me. It did surprise me, however, when Edward shut me out completely. He deliberately avoided my questions and ignored my concerns over his family. It only got worse when he told me that he would go to such lengths as driving his own family away to keep me safe. I sighed at the thought of how much easier it would be if I was one of them. It would only take someone to bite me… to change me. Edward wouldn't have to worry about my safety after that and maybe our relationship will be more equal.
Or will it?
"Bells?"
I opened my door a crack to find my father suited up for work again. "Is something wrong, Dad?"
"There was a small incident with one of the new deputies. I better go in and check it out. Hopefully, it won't take long, but don't wait up."
"Okay, goodnight."
I heard the cruiser drive away into the night and remembered that my homework sat untouched and I still had to get ready for bed. Feeling the stiffness in my injured arm, I opted to get cleaned up and comfortable first, before tackling some work. The shower relieved some of the more superficial aches, but my heart felt heavy at the very thought of Edward and the Cullens. I dragged some of my books on to my bed with a huff and hoped that my mind would be occupied enough to keep my melancholy thoughts away.
It was nearly two in the morning and I was almost finished with my homework when I heard a light tap on the window. I froze at the thought that maybe Edward returned to tell me that he had changed his mind about giving me time to think. After the drama today, I wasn't ready for more and I decided to ignore the tapping on the window. The tapping came again more audibly than before, so against my better judgment, I reluctantly got up and peered out the window. In the yard, barely illuminated by the moonlight, was the unmistakable form of Rosalie Hale. She motioned for me to let her in, so I opened my window and stepped back. In one graceful leap, she was through the window and standing tall in the middle of my shabby room.
"Is it true then?" she said accusingly with narrowed eyes.
"Is what true?" I replied cautiously, not certain what she could be referring to. I shuddered at Rosalie standing in my room. She never hid her distaste for me and I was always afraid of being in the same room as her, even when Edward or Alice was present.
"Edward tells us that you two are no longer together."
I stood there, not knowing how to respond. This wasn't really any of her business, but I was too intimidated to point it out. I didn't know her well, after all, and I couldn't be sure what she would do if she got upset.
Undeterred by my reluctance to answer, she pressed on. "He also said that you've requested that we not leave Forks despite the state of your relationship."
"Yes, that's true."
"Why would you do that?" she questioned as she continued to glare at me. "Why would you want us to stay?"
"Why would I want your family to go? I have nothing against anyone."
"After what happened last night, wouldn't you be afraid and angry? Wouldn't you feel betrayed that a member of the vampire family you've grown so attached to almost killed you? Why would you want someone like us around?"
"It wasn't Jasper's fault. I never blamed him."
"That doesn't tell me why you want us to stay," she said sharply. Rosalie wasn't the most patient of the Cullens and by the tone of her voice, whatever patience she had was quickly thinning.
"Because I care and I don't want to be without you all. I started to feel like I was part of a family… I don't want to be alone again," I answered as tears began to leak. "I was devastated to hear from Edward that Alice and Jasper went away. I never had the chance to say goodbye or tell them that I wasn't angry or anything." I was tired of rehashing everything again and it was very late in the evening. I crumpled into a ball on my bed and sobbed, no longer caring that Rosalie, of all people, was in the room with me. Thankfully, she didn't stop me from bawling my eyes out so I stayed that way until my sobs subsided.
"Last night, after Alice and Jasper left, Edward asked the rest of us to begin preparations to move to a new city," she said softly. I gasped at her words but she held a finger up to signal that she wanted to continue without further interruption. "We disagreed with him. We thought Edward was being too rash with his decision and we tried to reason with him. Carlisle was upset, more so than I expected. To say that he was adamant against leaving you behind is a gross understatement." She paused to gauge my reaction. "Now, we both know that you and I haven't always been the best of friends, Bella, but believe me when I say that I agree with Carlisle. You are family to us.
"When Edward came home a few hours ago, he asked us to suspend our plans to move. Esme and Emmett were elated, but Carlisle and I were a bit wary of his change in heart. So he admitted that the two of you are having difficulties, and that you've asked us not to leave right away. He didn't say any more than that, which is why I'm here."
"So, now that you know more, what will happen?" I croaked.
"I don't really know, Bella." She opened the window and looked over her shoulder. "In all honesty, I like Forks and I am not eager to leave yet." She was gone in a blink of an eye, but not before I saw a small smile appear on her face.
It must have been another night of sleeping like the dead. I woke up surrounded by my open textbooks. There was an odd shuffling sound coming from the stairs that made me jump out of bed. I wasn't expecting anybody to be here. Was Charlie home? What time was it? I still felt disoriented from my deep sleep. Was another Cullen here for a visit?
But they've never come in uninvited... what if it was someone else? Someone who didn't care if they were invited or not?
I felt the hair at the back of my neck stand at the onset of paranoia, so I grabbed the first thing that my hand touched. Very carefully, I tiptoed to my door and prayed with all my might that the door wouldn't creak so as not to alert the intruder of my presence. I had my makeshift weapon poised to throw or bash into whoever or whatever it was, when suddenly my door swung open causing me to scream in fright.
"Christ Isabella!" cried Charlie as I threw the object, narrowly missing his face.
"Oh my god, Dad! I'm sorry! I heard strange sounds and I didn't know what was going on,"I shrieked, relieved that it was my father. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself before looking back at him. Despite the bewildered expression on his face, Charlie looked tired. He was still wearing last night's clothes. "Did you just get back from the station?"
"Yeah, it was a very long night. Damned deputy and his idiocy. I've only got time for a short nap before I head back in," he grumbled. He glanced over my clothes and then down to his watch. "Aren't you running a little late for school? I saw your truck out front so I thought you caught a ride with Edward."
I yelped at the realization that class was about to start in less than twenty minutes, so I made quick work of getting dressed and grabbed my books from the bed. I drove my ancient truck to its limit to make up for lost time, and was glad to have found a parking space near the middle of the lot. After a sprint, with only two minor stumbles along the way, I made it to my first class. My lungs heaved at the physical punishment that I'd just subjected them to. Barely a minute passed when class began and Edward was nowhere to be seen. There wasn't an assigned seating arrangement, but we usually sat beside each other.
He's just giving you some space. Don't think much of it.
I sighed and nodded to myself. There was no sense in being an emotional wreck. Had Edward been present, I probably wouldn't be able to focus on anything but our fight. For that reason alone, I settled on being content for the chance to forget about that whole thing for the next while. Unfortunately, my concentration was a little challenged throughout the day, probably due to the lack of sleep, and I found my thoughts drifting to my brief conversation with Rosalie. At the time, it was difficult to process what she said, but now that I've had a few hours to mull it over, I felt some reassurance based on the family's reaction to Edward's suggestion to leave Forks. They didn't want to leave me behind.
Do I dare to think that I mean as much to them as they do to me? I always thought they only liked me for Edward's sake.
To make up for the debacle this morning, I decided to make Charlie something a little more special than usual for dinner. The chicken was slowly roasting away in the oven and I was just about finished mashing the potatoes when the phone rang in the kitchen. I would hate for it to be Charlie calling to tell me that he would be spending the evening at the station again.
"Bella." My father's usually gruff voice came on the phone. "I'll be another half hour here at the station to tie up a couple of things. I just called so you wouldn't worry."
"Sure, Dad, but no later okay? I don't want the chicken to get dry."
"Sure thing, kid. I'll see you in a bit."
Half an hour wasn't going to be long, but since I was pretty much finished, I plopped down on one of the chairs and pulled out a book to pass time. I barely got through one page when a knock came on my door. I huffed over the lost peace and trudged to the door to see who the unexpected visitor was. To my pleasant surprise, Carlisle Cullen was standing outside my door.
"Hello, Bella. I hope I'm not intruding," he spoke in his usual soothing tone.
"No, not at all. Please come in," I entreated, and he followed after me into the living room. It wasn't much of a living room compared to the beautiful white room in the Cullen mansion, but there wasn't an alternative room to receive guests in my house. "Charlie just called a few minutes ago to tell me that he's running a bit late for dinner."
"I came at a good time then. I wanted to check up on your stitches."
We sat on the couch and he proceeded to remove the bandaging to inspect the cut. He was happy to report that the stitches held well and that they would be ready for removal the next day. "I can come by tomorrow to do that," he said. "There's no need to go to the hospital, unless that's what you prefer." He was finished putting fresh bandages on my arm before I could take two breaths.
"Not that it really makes a difference who removes them, but I'd rather the hospital didn't get the chance to add yet another tick beside my name for number of hospital visits this year," I scoffed. "Besides, I don't want to have to explain to Charlie why I was there."
"I completely understand," he said conspiratorially. He quickly packed up his medical bag as I put on my cardigan to hide the injury from my father. "I understand Rosalie came by for a visit last night."
"Yes, she did. She mentioned that you and the rest of the family have no immediate plans to leave town, despite Edward's idea."
"That is true. I wasn't prepared to lose even more members of my family, especially after Alice and Jasper's sudden departure." His voice sounded less genial than I was accustomed to.
"Do you know where they are and when they will be back?" I asked, praying that he had some knowledge to share.
"Unfortunately, I don't. I haven't spoken to either of them since that night, but I'm hoping to hear from Alice soon to let me know where they are situated." He must have sensed my disappointment because he gently placed his hands on top of mine. "I promise to let you know when I hear from them. Do not worry, Bella, they are strong and they will be fine. I'm sure Alice misses you very much. We will hear from her soon enough." He smiled comfortingly and soothed my worries.
"Thank you, Carlisle. I appreciate that very much."
"Do not underestimate your worth to us, Bella. We all care very much for you. Be assured that we will not be going anywhere without your knowledge," he said with conviction. "I promise."
Those last two words resonated to every fiber of my being and I felt blessed to be part of a family of such caring people. I could feel tears rolling from my eyes as I gave Carlisle a huge embrace to convey my relief and gratitude. All too soon, Carlisle got up to leave to allow me some time to compose myself before Charlie came home. He squeezed my shoulder affectionately and said that he would return the next day to remove the stitches.
"This is great Bells!" Charlie said appreciatively as he looked at the spread on the dinner table. "After the terrible couple of days at work, it's great to come home to a nice meal."
"I just wanted to make up for scaring the hell out of you this morning." I laughed as we recounted the morning's events.
"Seriously, Bella, I don't think a plush bear would do too much damage to an intruder," he snorted.
We continued our banter throughout dinner. When we finished, Charlie was in such good spirits that he offered to give me a night off from dishes, despite his long day at work. Secretly, I was thankful to have another night to rest my arm.
"It's too bad we don't have nights like this very often, Bells. I'm sorry I have to work so much."
"Don't worry about it, Dad. I've been a little short on time too since I moved here." I felt guilty, all of the sudden, for all the time I spent with Edward and how little I left for my father. I wanted to correct that moving forward. "We should do this again very soon. How about another special dinner next week? We can make that a new tradition."
"I'm looking forward to it," he replied with a huge smile still plastered on his face.
It felt wonderful to connect with my dad after all the years we've been apart. With a final wave and a goodnight, I went up the stairs to my room with my heart feeling lighter than it had been for a long time.