Sorry it took a little longer than expected. Had a little trouble with this chapter, but everything worked out great in the end!
I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed this story, you made my day guys. Also a great big hug to everyone who has put this story on their alerts! :)
I would also like to publicly thank and cuddle flamingo1325 for being my beta for this story! Thanks to them this chapter is readable!
Disclaimer: Sadly I'm still not Stephenie Meyer nor do I own Twilight. Crazy huh?
Unexpected Stranger
"Mmm, It's lovely dad." I tried to sound as convincing as I could, trying desperately to swallow the rubber bacon in my mouth. Charlie looked amused to say the least, a frying pan in one hand and a spatula in the other, his mouth stretched into a wide smile.
"I know I'm not a good cook Bella." He chuckled. "But thanks for humoring me.."
Smiling slightly, but silently grateful that I could stop eating, I rose from the chair and took my plate towards the sink. Before I could even place the dish into the bowl, Charlie had unceremoniously swiped it from my grip.
"Go and take a shower- no offense Bells but it looks like you could use one." He said, whilst studying my appearance.
I knew he was right of course. My hair that always used to be so thick and glossy was now dull and scraggly. My once smooth skin that used to be flawless was now blotchy from all the crying that I had done. Small purple circles were also forming under my eyes; the result of countless sleepless nights that I have become accustom too. I had also come to realize that my patience was not what it once was. The slightest thing could either set me off in tears, or cause me to fly into a unpredicted rage. But stress can do that to you I suppose.
I won't even mention the smell. As disgusting as it sounds, personal hygiene was not something that was high on my priority of things towards the end of my stay in New York. Just trying to make it through the day without crying or having a panic attack when the phone rang was much more important.
"Okay." I agreed.
Taking the shower was bliss. As the hot water pounded against my aching muscles, the permanent knot that was always present in my back loosened a little. I washed and conditioned my hair three times, and scrubbed my skin until it was a light shade of red.Allowing myself some comfort and enjoying the calming sensations of the water pounding against my skin, my defenses fell and a forgotten memory came hurtling forward in my mind.
"Isabella! What has happened to you!" A startled screech came from my living room doorway.
I jumped in surprise, the carton of ice cream falling to the floor as it slipped from my hands. Turing around on my sofa I could see Jessica. My manager. Her thin lips were curled up in disgust, as she surveyed the area around me, her eye's darting from place-to-place like lasers. She stepped into the room, her hands lightly shaking, a sign that she was trying to control her anger no doubt.
"Jessica!" I jumped up in a flurry, trying desperately to hide the evidence of my temporary weakness. But as she looked at me, I knew it was too late.
"Do you want to look like an obese cow?" she questioned bluntly.Her intense gaze landed on my face, making my stomach squirm with apprehension. My lips felt dry and my mouth felt like sand paper.
"Jessica, I-""Don't you Jessica me!" She sneered, her voice booming over mine.
"Why are you eating ice cream, chips and chocolate?" She looked faint all of a sudden, her thin fingers landing on her chest as she tried to control her breathing.
"Isabella, do you want to be fat? I mean look at you! You're not exactly thin as it is!" Her snide comments stung me, as if she had actually slapped me. Looking down at my flat stomach I didn't know what she meant.
"I am not fat." My voice was weak, barley a whisper.
Jessica strode towards me, her high heels tapping against the wooden floor. A cool hand grasped my chin, forcing me to look up at her pale face.
"You will no longer eat this rubbish, you are supposed to be thin. Images of your body fill the minds of older men and teenage boys across the world. Your marketed as a 'sex symbol,' not some kind of singing whale." Her voice was cold like ice. I tried to pull my head back, which only resulted in her tightening her vice like hold.
"I have put too much effort into your career to let you ruin all of it now. You have a red carpet event in two weeks and I want your flab turned into abs, you hear me?" she hissed.
I merely nodded my head; tears were already welling up behind my eyes.
"You also need a tan, your looking kind of pasty to me, I'll book you in at Tanlines." Jessica let loose her hold and rearranged her frizzy brown hair, she looked at me one last time before she strode out of the house.
Of course during the following two weeks I went to the gym, got a personal trainer who looked confused to why I needed him, but worked with me nonetheless. I ate only steamed vegetables, exercised at home and even got my spray tan.
By the time the event came around, my body was a Coppertone color, my hair was styled into loose waves, and my body looked stunning, bar my hips which protruded oddly against my stretched skin. I was all smiles for the cameras and for the screaming fans. Though inside, I could feel another piece of me die.
Before I knew what I was doing, I started to scrub harder, my skin stinging slightly as I did so. Tears started to flow from my eyes for no apparent reason. I wanted to feel like myself again, and if I could just scrub away all dirt that I had brought with me, then I would go back to being normal. But the harder I scrubbed, I knew it wasn't working.
Getting out of the shower, the cool air lapped against the raw skin on my arms, making it throb a little. I quickly dried myself, wiping away the remnants of my tears as I did so. I wiped some of the condensation off of the bathroom mirror and stared at myself.
With my normal shade of pale skin, my face void of any make up and my hair just falling naturally down my back, I was beginning to look like my normal self already. I smiled in spite of myself and made my way to get changed.
Once in my bedroom I changed into some of my comfy sweats and a loose fitting sweater and pulled my hair into a messy bun. Placing my dirty clothes into the hamper, I made my way back downstairs. As soon as I neared the bottom though, I could hear some hushed voices coming from the living room.
"I want to see her." A deep voice spoke.
"I don't think it's best right now." Muttered Charlie, his voice slightly torn.
"Please Charlie, just quickly." The deeper voice said, slightly quieter than before.
I could hear Charlie sigh, even from here. It sounded like he was weighing up the options up in his mind.
"Maybe if you could wait awhile, come by next week maybe? Bella is in a delicate state at the moment."
"I understand Charlie, I really do. But I won't be long. I promise." The other voice persisted.
"I don't like this." Charlie grumbled. "I'll see what Bella says, but you must go if she doesn't want to see you, understand?" His voice going firmer.
"Completely, I do not wish to harm her." The smooth voice spoke again.
Before I could move, the door opened and Charlie stepped out, his eyes landing directly on me.
"Bella." He said as he shut the living room door.
"Are you okay? You were quite a while up there." Charlie asked me, his face looking concerned.
I smiled a perfect fake smile. So perfect in fact it looked real. Using it so much over the last few years had helped tremendously.
"I'm fine dad, just wanted to relax a bit and get rid of that grimy smell I had." I attempted to joke.
Charlie looked like he didn't believe me, but didn't say anything on the matter.
"There's someone here who would like to see you." He said, totally changing the subject.
My eyes widened slightly, my breathing becoming slightly heavier. Panic washed over me as if someone had submerged my head into freezing water. I blinked several times, trying to subside my fear. Ever since my 'breakdown' I didn't like speaking to people- Charlie was the only exception.
Charlie must have noticed the change in my expression because he was at the base of the stairs in an instant, his hand grabbed mine as he leaded me down the last remaining steps.
"It's okay Bells, I'll tell him to go away."
I couldn't answer him straight away, thoughts were already swirling in my head. Seeing someone who wasn't Charlie was like being handed a death sentence. I could almost imagine what a convicted criminal must feel like as they were lead away to their death. All calm and poised on the outside, but deep inside they were screaming, frightened of what was about to come. I could relate in a way. Meeting strangers or any person for that matter, was my idea of being handed a death sentence.
"I don't know." I answered honestly. I didn't know what I wanted.
Charlie squeezed my arm reassuringly, a comforting smile played along his lips.
"It's entirely up to you Bella. I'll stand by whatever decision you make." His voice was rock steady, but I could tell by the look on his face that he meant it.
"You're a strong girl Bella, you cannot shelter yourself away from people all of your life. One day you will have to speak to somebody who isn't your old dad." He smiled a real smile at this. His eyes crinkling at the corners.
Noticing the look of hesitation still on my face he turned me slightly, so I was standing directly in front of him.
"If it makes you feel any better I'll come in with you. Besides I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised when you meet this person."
That got my curiosity going. I didn't even keep in contact with anyone from Forks. But yet there was a stranger standing in my living room, waiting for me.
And by the reassuring grin that was on Charlie's face, he obviously thought I would like to talk to whoever was inside.
"Okay." I quickly agreed. My eyes widening. Shocked at how easy the word had slipped from my lips.
Charlie looked at me oddly, clearly surprised by my sudden valor.
Truth be told I was too, the word had slipped out so easily that it had frightened me. Even before I had made a conscious decision on what to do the word had come from my mouth, agreeing instantly.
I smiled at him reassuringly, even though my heart was about to break through my chest as it hammered against my ribcage.
Opening the door seemed to pass in slow motion. It must have been seconds but to me it felt like an excruciating torture than had dragged on for hours. Once I had finally got the door open, I took a timid step into the room. My nostrils became flared as I tried to quell the hysteria growing inside of me.
Deciding that the faster I did it, then the sooner it would be over, I forced myself forward. Taking two long strides into the room, my eyes landed on the person inside. My eyes instantly widened in shock, my jaw going completely slack.
An amused smile played along their lips, their eyes locking on to mine.
"Hello, Bella."
